Does anyone play steel and sing at the same time?

Doug Cassell · Post by **Doug Cassell** » 20 Mar 2018 6:32 am

Seems like it would be a tougher since you need to pay more attention to the PSG than with a 6 string. Couldn't find anything with the search function.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Mar 2018 6:35 am

Yep, there are quite a few of them. Off the top of my head: Joe Wright, Sara Jory, Pete Burak, Chuck Back, Mike Sigler, Lionel Wendling, just to name a few...

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 20 Mar 2018 6:36 am

Chuck Back and Rick Schmidt do it, and do it really well.
They do it the smart way... sing a line, play a line, because it's not considered good form to play over the vocal, even if you're the one singing....

Doug Cassell · Post by **Doug Cassell** » 20 Mar 2018 6:42 am

Skip Edwards wrote:Chuck Back and Rick Schmidt do it, and do it really well.
They do it the smart way... sing a line, play a line, because it's not considered good form to play over the vocal, even if you're the one singing....

That makes sense, it's the only way I could conceive of doing it!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Mar 2018 7:15 am

I usually finish up having to do backing vocals when I do 'Always, Patsy Cline'. Singing into a mic while keeping one's eyes on the fretboard is a challenge!

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 20 Mar 2018 7:28 am

I don't sing but I was at a studio once when I noticed the band laughing in the booth. I took off the phones and they asked if I knew I hummed real loud when I played. I never realized I did that.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Mar 2018 7:35 am

That's funny, Dick.

Back in 1969 I was putting a guitar overdub on Peter Sarstedt's 'Where Do You Go To, My Lovely' (which went on to be a massive international hit and a #1 in the UK) at Lansdowne Studios.

They were beside themselves trying to track down this elusive tone leaking into my mic. Eventually they worked out that it was me humming, and even I was completely unaware that I was doing it!

I think it's a sort of nervous concentration...

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 20 Mar 2018 8:12 am

Portland steeler Harley James not only sang, he fronted a band a few years ago, The Buckles.

You don't often see the steel front and center on stage, but Harley laid down the law on both lead vocals and push-pull!

Jeffrey McFadden · Post by **Jeffrey McFadden** » 20 Mar 2018 8:58 am

I do. I started playing guitar to sing with, 50 years ago, and my objective has never changed. I sing about 1/4 or slightly less of the songs my band performs. I sing while I practice, even as a beginner. I've been singing over lap steel for some years, so the shuffle of eyes from mic to fretboard is second nature now.
This is really rough, because I'm so early in my PSG journey, but here's an example. (I record my practice, it helps me learn.) http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6gj43e

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 20 Mar 2018 12:55 pm

I can for a few songs, but would much rather just play!

Robert

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Mar 2018 1:04 pm

Billy Phelps is another. Billy can sing and play steel at the same time, and do both really well.

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 20 Mar 2018 1:19 pm

Lynn Stafford and Dick Meis both do a fine job. Also George Duncan Sypert.

Jim Hollingsworth · Post by **Jim Hollingsworth** » 20 Mar 2018 1:44 pm

I do it on some songs out of necessity. Sing - play - sing play.... But I prefer to play regular guitar and sing if I can.

Jim

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Mar 2018 1:51 pm

I'm confused. Why would anyone want to sing when they can play steel guitar...?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Mar 2018 2:18 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:I'm confused. Why would anyone want to sing when they can play steel guitar...?

Singers get more sex.

Don Kuhn · Post by **Don Kuhn** » 20 Mar 2018 4:50 pm

Mike Perlowin wrote:
Jim Cohen wrote:I'm confused. Why would anyone want to sing when they can play steel guitar...?
Singers get more sex.

Well Darn now I have tp sign up for singing lessons

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 20 Mar 2018 4:56 pm

A guitar player and mentor of mine used to work a club gig with Julian Tharpe. He said Julian would be playing a solo and look at him and say "let's do (and sing a line from a different tune) next".

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Mar 2018 4:59 pm

Bill Cunningham wrote:A guitar player and mentor of mine used to work a club gig with Julian Tharpe. He said Julian would be playing a solo and look at him and say "let's do (and sing a line from a different tune) next".

One of those guys with an extra brain, eh? Joe Wright is like that too.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 21 Mar 2018 5:35 am

I did it for years and years in good local bands in NJ/NY.. Lead vocals and high harmonies. I always had the highest voice in most bands I was in..

After a while it really became second nature and was effortless..

However as time went on, and I was playing fewer gigs as the years went by, and playing less pedal steel and more guitar, I found it becoming increasingly difficult,, and tiring, and today I doubt I could do it at all... bob

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 21 Mar 2018 11:50 am

I do all the time..since going to an Ext E9 I have the same chordal accompanyment as guitar..the low E (10th) and B (9th) make the difference!..

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 21 Mar 2018 12:18 pm

Jake Penrod does it very well.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Mar 2018 12:50 pm

I do. I'm not a great singer, but I can do chord pads on steel while singing and sometimes even add a few fills.

Dave Campbell · Post by **Dave Campbell** » 21 Mar 2018 2:52 pm

one night i tried to sing gary stewart's "she's acting single" while i played steel. i had practiced it with the band in rehearsal and it was great. on the gig i bombed on it in a way that i've never bombed on anything. i've been afraid to try again.

Frank Carter · Post by **Frank Carter** » 23 Mar 2018 7:39 pm

I did for 25 years lead & harmonies

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 23 Mar 2018 9:27 pm

I can't even sing Giddyup Go and play steel at the same time.